1 Chronicles 2:4-55
Summary for 1Chr 2:4-5: 2:4-5 a The main ancestral line of David descends from Perez, one of the sons of Tamar, Judah’s widowed daughter-in-law.• Hamul, one of Perez’s sons, is ignored completely; the Chronicler might not have had information about him.
Summary for 1Chr 2:6-8: 2:6-8 b For the genealogy of Zerah, cp. Josh 7:1 c, 17 d; 1 Kgs 4:31 e (Mahol might be another name for Zerah).
2:7 f set apart for the Lord: See thematic note for Complete Destruction at end of chapter.
Summary for 1Chr 2:9-55: 2:9-55 g The descendants of Hezron are given down to the time of David, in several sections: the direct line from Hezron to David (2:9-17 h; cp. Ruth 4:18-22 i), the other descendants of Hezron (1 Chr 2:18-41 j), then the descendants of Hezron’s son Caleb (2:42-55 k). 2:9 l Caleb was the most notable immediate descendant of Hezron, so the author covers his descendants in detail (2:42-55 m). This Caleb was apparently not the same individual as Caleb son of Jephunneh, a descendant of Kenaz (see study note on 4:13-15).
Summary for 1Chr 2:10-17: 2:10-17 n The passage dedicated to the descendants of Ram provides a direct line of descent from Ram to Jesse, then records Jesse’s children.
Summary for 1Chr 2:14-15: 2:14-15 o The Chronicler lists David as the seventh son of Jesse, while Samuel makes him the eighth (1 Sam 16:6-13 p; 17:12 q). Samuel does not provide the names of David’s fourth, fifth, or sixth brothers (Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem). Later, the Chronicler lists a brother named Elihu, who might or might not have been an additional son (see study note on 1 Chr 27:18). The number seven (the “perfect” number) perhaps symbolizes that David was chosen by God to rule.
2:20 r The Lord chose Bezalel, a craftsman descended from Hezron, to construct the Tabernacle (see Exod 31:1-2 s).
Summary for 1Chr 2:21-23: 2:21-23 t Some of the families of Gilead, listed elsewhere as members of the tribe of Manasseh (cp. Num 32:39-42 u), also had a connection with the tribe of Judah.
2:24 v Tekoa was a small Judean village southeast of Bethlehem (see also 4:5-8 w).
Thematic note: Complete Destruction
God instructed Saul to “completely destroy” the Amalekites, who had ambushed the Israelites after the Exodus (see Exod 17:8-16 x; Deut 25:17-19 y). The Hebrew word kharam (“completely destroy”) often means dedicating something or someone completely to the Lord, either by destroying it (1 Sam 15:3 z; Josh 6:17-18 aa) or by giving it as an offering (see Lev 27:28-29 ab; Josh 6:19 ac).
Complete destruction was called for in cases where those to be destroyed had committed a severe offense against God, such as worshiping false gods (Deut 7:1-6 ad; 13:12-18 ae). In 1 Samuel 15:3 af, complete destruction is prescribed as God’s judgment on a nation that mistreated his chosen people. Those who curse God’s family are, in turn, cursed (Gen 12:3 ag).
God still judges the godless and impenitent. But in the new covenant, Christians are not called to be agents of such judgment. God calls us to exercise his mercy toward those who wrong us (see Luke 9:51-56 ah). We must completely destroy whatever within ourselves wars against Christ (Rom 8:12-13 ai; Col 3:5 aj). And we must overcome the enemies of Christ by our faith, by the Good News, and by our love (Eph 6:10-20 ak; 1 Jn 2:9-17 al). God will mete out judgment according to his justice and in his time (Rom 12:19 am; 2 Thes 1:6-10 an).
Passages for Further Study
Exod 22:20 ao; Lev 27:28-29 ap; Num 21:2-3 aq; Deut 7:1-6 ar, 26 as; 13:12-18 at; Josh 6:17-19 au; 7:11-26 av; 1 Sam 15:3 aw; 1 Kgs 20:42 ax; Isa 43:26-28 ay
1 Chronicles 3
Summary for 1Chr 3:1-24: 3:1-24 az The genealogy of David continues the genealogy of Ram (2:10-17 ba), which included David as the seventh son of Jesse (2:15 bb). David’s genealogy is divided into three sections: David’s sons (3:1-9 bc); the kings of Judah down to Jehoiachin and Zedekiah (3:10-16 bd), who were exiled to Babylon; and the descendants of Jehoiachin down to the time of the Chronicler (3:17-24 be).Summary for 1Chr 3:1-9: 3:1-9 bf The list of David’s sons relies on information from Samuel (2 Sam 3:2-5 bg; 5:14-16 bh); the list is divided between sons ... born while David ruled in Hebron, and those born ... in Jerusalem.
Summary for 1Chr 3:10-16: 3:10-16 bi The Chronicler lists the kings of Judah in father-to-son progression from Solomon to the Exile.
3:15 bj Three of the four sons of Josiah served as kings of Judah.
3:16 bk The successors of Jehoiakim were his son Jehoiachin and his brother Zedekiah: At the very end of the monarchy of Judah, the sequence of kings did not follow the typical pattern of the eldest son succeeding his father.
Summary for 1Chr 3:17-23: 3:17-23 bl This portion of the list of David’s descendants extends to around 400 BC.
3:21 bm The sons of Hananiah ... Shecaniah (literally The son of Hananiah [was] Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah): In Hebrew, all the names are listed as “the sons” of Hananiah, all in one generation. However, many ancient manuscripts and translations support viewing the list as covering several generations (as in the NLT) by translating “sons of” (Hebrew beney, four times) as “son of” (Hebrew beno). The resulting genealogy extends several generations from the time of Zerubbabel and his son Hananiah.
1 Chronicles 4:1-20
Summary for 1Chr 4:1-7: 4:1-7 bn The genealogy of Judah continues, with links back to 2:1-55 bo. The connection to Hur, the ancestor of Bethlehem, is provided immediately (4:1-4 bp; see 2:19-20 bq, 51-55 br).Summary for 1Chr 4:9-20: 4:9-20 bs The exact genealogies of the remaining descendants of Judah are unknown—the Chronicler apparently had incomplete information.
Summary for 1Chr 4:9-10: 4:9-10 bt The section on Jabez stands independently, allowing the Chronicler to explain the origin of his name; he is not mentioned previously, although Jabez was listed as the name of a town inhabited by some of the descendants of Hur’s son Salma (2:55 bu). Jabez apparently received his name because he caused his mother pain, a fulfillment of the curse on Eve (Gen 3:16 bv). Although his name was a curse, he was more honorable than any of his brothers, and his prayer changed the outcome of his life. The prayer is poetic; it consists of a plea for blessing followed by requests for prosperity and protection from harm. His last request might mean “keep me from causing trouble and pain.” God listened to his prayer and removed his curse.
Summary for 1Chr 4:13-15: 4:13-15 bw The name Kenaz also appears as a descendant of Esau by Eliphaz (Gen 36:11 bx); his descendants are known as the Kenizzites. The Kenizzites lived in the southern part of the land and had affiliations with Judah and Edom. Caleb son of Jephunneh was a Kenizzite (Num 32:12 by; Josh 14:6 bz) and had a brother named Kenaz (Josh 15:17 ca), whose family is listed here.
4:18 cb Through Mered’s wife Bithia, a daughter of Pharaoh, the descendants of Judah included children of Egyptian heritage.
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